Question

Briefly explain what it means when a chemical system is at equilibrium. Define any chemical terms that are used in this explanation.

Answer 1

The reactions which can take place in both the forward and backward directions are called reversible reactions.

In a reversible reaction, initially reactants starts to convert to products and hence the concentration of reactants gradullay decreases and concentration of products gradually increases.

After sometime, the concentration of products becomes more and the reverse reaction will starts. At some instant the rates of forward and backward reactions becomes equal and this state is called equilibrium state and the chemical reaction is said to be in equilibrium.

At equilibrium, the rate of forward reaction= rate of backward reaction